So, another season of football follies is almost upon us. Pete Fox, VandyMania’s resident curmudgeon, returns with his weekly SEC picks.
By Pete Fox VandyMania.com
It’s been a pretty dull off-season. Just the usual suspects of assault, DUI, sexual misconduct, and felony theft enlivened the college football scene. The most entertaining aspect of media days was Mr. Fulmer dodging the process servers from the court system in Alabama.
(0-0 last week, 0-0 overall)
Every SEC team starts on September 4, and it’s a clean slate for everybody (even me!). All are undefeated, and the majority are likely to stay that way, as the standard line-up of money games and sacrificial lambs dots the landscape. There are a few intriguing matchups on hand. I’ll try my hands at picking them all. As usual, I just pick the winners and take a not-so serious stab at the final score. I don’t give a rip about the spread.
(Home Team is in bold.)
First, the laughers:
Alabama vs. Utah State – The Utah State coach won’t have to worry about process servers, just keeping the score respectable. No such luck. Bama, 35-10.
Arkansas vs. New Mexico State – Pigs win 28-17. What a boar!
Auburn vs. Louisiana-Monroe – The only question here is whether the Eagle is healthy again. Auburn, 56-10.
Florida vs. Middle Tennessee – MTSU has fallen off dramatically the last few years. This won’t be close. Gators (no more crocs this year), 42-14.
Georgia vs. Georgia Southern – Georgia Southern can give most SEC teams a good game. Georgia is not most SEC teams. Georgia by 28.
Mississippi State vs. Tulane – This is almost an interesting game, if just for the sidelights. MSU was not very effective last year, but neither was Tulane. The renewed enthusiasm for a new coach and rededication of the players should carry Sylvester Croom’s troops to victory in this one. MSU by 15.
Tennessee vs. Nevada-Las Vegas – The starting quarterback is the only question here. The Great Pumpkin will call off the dogs, er, Volunteers, early, and UTK will cruise to a 27-point win.
And the interesting games:
LSU vs. Oregon State – Oregon State will keep it close for 3 quarters, but LSU will prevail as the home field advantage asserts itself 31-21.
Kentucky vs. Louisville – Louisville won last year in Lexington. There’s no reason to think they won’t prevail again at home. Cards by 15.
Mississippi vs. Memphis – Ole Miss lost a lot of talent last year, in addition to ELI. At Memphis I like Memphis. In Oxford I like Mississippi. Rebels by 3.
Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina – The good news for Vandy – almost everyone’s back. The bad news? This group went 2-10. I want to believe, I really do. History dictates otherwise. This shapes up to be a nail-biter from the very beginning. Ultimately, the inexperience at the center position will be Vandy’s undoing.
South Carolina 31, Vandy 28.
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